Don’t expect ex-Bulldog at Dam to Dam

By Lance Bergeson

One of these years, it would be fantastic to see former Drake University standout Jason Lehmkuhle take a run at the Dam to Dam 20k course record.
Just don’t expect him to run in the 31st annual race on June 5 of 2010.
Lehmkuhle told me last week that he’s eyeing a spring marathon to start off 2010. The target is most likely the Boston Marathon on April 19. Running Boston would put Dam to Dam in jeopardy because of the need for recovery following the 26.2-mile race and a quick turnaround six weeks later to Dam to Dam.
“Tentatively, I’d love to run a spring marathon,” said Lehmkuhle, who mentioned Boston when I asked him about possibilities. “I need to see how I come out of this (New York City Marathon) first.
“I know that it (Dam to Dam) will be tentatively scheduled for me in most years.”
The Team USA Minnesota runner finished 10th in the New York City Marathon last weekend.
The Dam to Dam men’s record is 59:23 set by Phil Coppess in 1985. Lehmkuhle, 32, ran a personal best of 59:04 for the 20k distance, which isn’t a common distance these days, at the USA Championships on Labor Day.
The record could be his. That is, if he decides to come to Des Moines next June.